Web Designers Purposely Trash Client Site

Web designers face jail time after purposely destroying the website of a client.

Wired PR News.com – Web designers from a Seattle-area consulting company have pleaded guilty to purposely destroying the website of a client after a dispute over their contract. As reported by PC World, CEO of Minecode, Pradyumma Samal and project manager Dandeep Verma deleted the website of Vinado wine retailer after a disagreement in 2006.

The two are due for sentencing in April, and could face as much as one year each in jail, as well as fines. Minecode has already agreed to pay damages in the amount of $120,000.

As quoted of the US Department of Justice in the PC World report, “Computer intrusion is a serious crime… Whether it is a hacker seeking to harm our citizens, or misguided businessmen using technology to escalate a dispute, these crimes will be investigated and prosecuted.”

As noted by PC World, Minecode was founded in 2001 by Samal, who once worked as a Program Manager for Microsoft. It is stated to currently employ more than 500 workers.